We use both atrazine and metalachlor. Have done for 20 years. I have also been involved with monitoring experiments, determining runoff levels and such into waterways and creeks. This was a big trial about 15 years ago, however there is a full time monitor in a creek still now. There has never been enough chemical detected to be a concern, so we still all use the stuff.
Metalachlor is used for grass control in maize and sorghum. Atrazine is used for grass and broadleaf control in the same crops. We are in a summer crop dominant area, and some years might see 50% of cultivated areas receive treatment by both herbicides.
Ironically, GM roundup ready technology would completety eliminate both herbicides.
ctindale, what do you propose here if all these herbicides were banned? There is calls in Europe to ban fungicides completely. When we were all told this at a farmers meating we all burst out laughing. Growing wheat and barley in most of Europe without fungicide would be impossible. Are you propossing a return to organic and permaculture farming methods?
Where would all the labour come from to man the hoes? I'd imagine you'd need 20% or more of the workforce to move back to farms, or maybe more. That's from 2% today in countries with mechanised industrial farming.
I would predict global food production would crash. What is the outcome you foresee?
Surely there needs to be some compromise. That's what currently happens. The authorities can probably see there are a few concerns, but they comprimise. The outcome from banning all farm chemicals would be a global disaster.
